Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Lawyer
Taking On Trucking Companies & Their Insurers
An 80,000-pound semi-truck needs the length of two football fields to stop at highway speed. When a negligent truck driver or reckless trucking company injures you on I-95, I-595, or anywhere in Fort Lauderdale, Shiner Law Group levels the playing field against the legal teams and insurers that showed up before the dust settled.
Trucking Companies Act Immediately
Within hours of a crash, trucking companies dispatch investigators and attorneys to protect their interests. They're building their defense while you're still in the hospital. Call us first.
Black Box Data Can Be Erased
Truck "black boxes" (ECMs) record speed, braking, and hours of operation — but this data can be overwritten in as little as 30 days. We immediately send preservation letters to prevent destruction of evidence.
2-Year Deadline to File
Florida's statute of limitations is two years. Truck accident cases involve complex evidence and multiple defendants — the earlier we start, the stronger your case and the larger your recovery.
Hit by a Truck in Fort Lauderdale? Here's What You Need to Know
Truck accident cases are fundamentally different from car accident cases — and trucking companies know it. Before you speak to anyone, watch this short video from our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys.
- Why the trucking company's lawyers are already working against you
- How multiple parties can be held liable in one truck crash
- What the federal trucking regulations say about driver duty
- How Shiner Law Group investigates and wins truck accident claims
Fort Lauderdale Truck Accidents Are Far More Complex Than Car Accidents
Fort Lauderdale sits at the intersection of some of Florida's busiest commercial trucking corridors. I-95 alone records 1.73 fatal accidents per mile from the Miami-Dade border through Broward County's Deerfield Beach exit. Port Everglades — one of the nation's busiest cargo ports, located in Fort Lauderdale — generates constant heavy truck traffic on surrounding roads 24 hours a day.
Truck accident cases involve a completely different legal landscape than car accidents. Multiple parties can share liability — the driver, the trucking company, the cargo loader, the vehicle manufacturer, and maintenance contractors. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations govern driver hours, vehicle maintenance, cargo securement, and drug testing. Violations of these regulations can establish negligence per se — automatic liability in the eyes of the court.
Driver logs are frequently falsified. The industry's own term for altered hours-of-service records is "lie books." Our attorneys use the discovery process to obtain ECM (black box) data, GPS telematics, surveillance footage, maintenance records, and driver qualification files that reveal what really happened — and who is really responsible.
Fort Lauderdale Office: 1041 W Commercial Blvd, STE 205, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 — Available 24/7 at (954) 999-9900
Major Truck Routes Through Fort Lauderdale
Act Immediately: Trucking companies dispatch investigators to crash scenes within hours. Their goal is to protect the company's financial interests — not yours. Call Shiner Law Group at (954) 999-9900 before speaking to anyone from the trucking company or their insurer.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident?
One of the most important advantages in truck accident cases is the potential to pursue multiple at-fault parties — each with their own insurance policies — dramatically increasing your total recovery.
The Truck Driver
Negligent driving behaviors including fatigue, speeding, distracted driving, impairment, and reckless lane changes. FMCSA hours-of-service violations that cause drowsy driving are especially common and provable with ECM data.
The Trucking Company
Liable for negligent hiring, inadequate driver training, pressuring drivers to violate hours-of-service rules, failing to conduct proper background checks, and allowing unsafe vehicles to stay on the road.
The Cargo Loading Company
Improperly secured, overloaded, or unbalanced cargo causes jackknife accidents, rollovers, and lost-load crashes. The company responsible for loading or securing cargo can be held separately liable.
The Truck Manufacturer
Defective brakes, faulty tires, malfunctioning steering systems, or failed safety components can make the manufacturer liable under product liability law — in addition to any other at-fault parties.
Maintenance Contractors
Third-party mechanics and maintenance companies who negligently fail to repair brakes, tires, or other critical components may share liability for accidents caused by those failures.
Government Entities
Dangerous road conditions — potholes, inadequate signage, poor lighting, or construction defects — that contribute to a truck accident may create liability against a city, county, or state government agency.
Common Truck Accident Types in Fort Lauderdale
Every type of commercial truck accident has its own legal and mechanical complexities. Our attorneys have experience with all of them.
Rear-End Collisions
An 80,000-pound truck cannot stop quickly. At 65 mph, a fully loaded tractor-trailer needs 525 feet — nearly two football fields — to stop. When trucks tailgate or drivers are fatigued or distracted, the results are catastrophic for the vehicle in front.
Jackknife Accidents
When a truck brakes too hard or takes a curve too fast, the trailer swings outward to form a "V" or "L" shape — sweeping across multiple lanes and striking everything in its path. Caused by brake failure, slick roads, or excessive speed.
Rollover Accidents
Overloaded cargo, improper weight distribution, excessive speed on curves, or evasive maneuvers can cause a truck to tip. Rollovers are among the deadliest accident types, often crushing vehicles alongside the truck.
Underride Accidents
One of the most deadly crash types — a smaller vehicle slides under the rear or side of a trailer, often shearing off the vehicle's roof. Federal regulations require rear underride guards, but side guards are not mandated.
Lost Load / Cargo Accidents
Improperly secured cargo that falls from a truck can cause devastating multi-vehicle pileups on Fort Lauderdale's highways. Both the truck driver and the cargo loading company may be liable for load securement failures.
Wide Turn Accidents
Trucks making right turns must swing wide to the left first — creating a dangerous space that traps smaller vehicles between the truck and the curb. A common cause of accidents at Fort Lauderdale's commercial intersections.
Fatigued / Hours-of-Service Violations
FMCSA regulations limit drivers to 11 hours of driving after 10 hours off duty. Truckers facing delivery deadlines frequently violate these rules. A driver who has been awake 18 hours has impairment equivalent to a 0.08% BAC — legally drunk.
Brake & Mechanical Failure
Federal law requires pre-trip inspections before every drive. When trucking companies skip maintenance or ignore known defects to keep trucks on the road, they bear full liability when brake or mechanical failures cause crashes.
Wrongful Death
When a truck accident kills a family member, the surviving family can pursue a wrongful death claim against all responsible parties. With higher insurance limits and multiple liable defendants, truck wrongful death cases can result in substantial recoveries.
Evidence We Pursue Immediately in Truck Accident Cases
Truck accident cases produce far more evidence than car accidents — but much of it disappears quickly unless you have an attorney who moves fast. Our first action in every truck case is to send a legal spoliation letter demanding the preservation of all evidence. Here's what we immediately pursue:
Steps to Take After a Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident
Call 911 & Do NOT Move
Get a police report filed immediately. If possible, stay at the scene and do not move your vehicle until law enforcement documents the scene. Get the truck driver's CDL number, carrier name, and DOT number.
Seek Emergency Medical Care
Truck accidents cause catastrophic injuries. Even if you feel you can walk away, internal injuries, TBI, and spinal damage may not be immediately apparent. Go directly to the ER.
Do NOT Speak to the Trucking Company
Trucking company representatives and their attorneys will arrive quickly. Do not give any statement. Do not sign anything. Their job is to protect the company — not compensate you fairly.
Document Everything You Safely Can
Photos of all vehicles, cargo, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and your injuries. Get witness names and contact information before they leave.
Call Shiner Law Group Immediately
We send spoliation letters, preserve black box data, and begin our investigation before the trucking company can destroy or alter evidence. Call (954) 999-9900 — available 24/7.
Truck Accident Injuries We Represent
The sheer size and weight of commercial trucks means the injuries sustained in these accidents are among the most severe in personal injury law — often requiring lifetime care and producing million-dollar case values.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and herniated discs
- Crush injuries and traumatic amputations
- Multiple broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage and internal bleeding
- Severe burns (especially in fuel explosion crashes)
- Disfigurement requiring reconstructive surgery
- PTSD and severe psychological trauma
- Wrongful death
What Damages Can You Recover?
With federal minimum insurance requirements of $750,000 and multiple liable parties each carrying their own coverage, truck accident cases routinely produce significantly higher recoveries than car accident cases.
Medical Expenses
Past and future hospital bills, surgeries, ICU stays, rehabilitation, and long-term care costs
Lost Wages
Income lost during recovery and permanently reduced or eliminated earning capacity
Pain & Suffering
Physical pain, emotional distress, PTSD, and loss of quality and enjoyment of life
Property Damage
Full repair or replacement of your vehicle and personal property destroyed in the crash
Long-Term Care
In-home nursing, assisted living, adaptive equipment, and ongoing physical therapy
Punitive Damages
In cases of gross negligence or willful FMCSA violations — can dramatically increase total recovery
Your Rights After a Truck Accident in Fort Lauderdale
Experienced truck accident attorneys fighting for victims against major trucking companies throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County
Millions Recovered
We have a strong track record recovering significant compensation for seriously injured clients across Florida — including against large national trucking carriers and their insurers.
See Our ResultsImmediate Investigation
We move before evidence disappears. Spoliation letters, black box preservation, driver log requests, and accident reconstruction begin the moment you call us — not weeks later.
Learn MoreNo Win, No Fee
Zero upfront costs. We only collect a fee if and when we win compensation for you. There is no financial risk to getting started with your free case review today.
Learn More24/7 Availability
Truck accidents happen at all hours. Our Fort Lauderdale team is available around the clock — because the trucking company's investigators don't wait, and neither should you.
Learn MoreOther Fort Lauderdale Injury Cases We Handle
Our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys represent victims in a full range of accident cases throughout Broward County.
Visit Shiner Law Group's Fort Lauderdale Office
Our Fort Lauderdale office serves truck accident victims throughout Broward County. Too seriously injured to travel? We come to you — hospital and home visits are available at no extra charge.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Common Questions About Truck Accident Cases in Fort Lauderdale
Get answers about truck accident claims in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
2. Do not leave — Stay until police document the scene. Get the truck driver's CDL number, trucking company name, and DOT number from the side of the truck.
3. Seek emergency medical care — Go directly to the ER. Truck accident injuries are often catastrophic and may not be immediately apparent.
4. Do NOT speak to the trucking company — Their investigators and attorneys will arrive quickly. Do not give any statement or sign anything.
5. Document the scene — Photos of all vehicles, cargo, road conditions, and your injuries if safely possible.
6. Call Shiner Law Group immediately — (954) 999-9900. We send preservation letters and begin our investigation the same day.
Submit a FREE Case Review
Send your free case evaluation directly to our Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys
Submit Your Case Details
Tell us about the accident — what happened, which company's truck was involved, and how you were injured.
Case Detail Evaluation
Our Fort Lauderdale truck accident attorneys review your case, identify all liable parties, and advise on your options.
Fighting for You
We immediately begin preserving evidence and building your case against the trucking company and their insurers.
Free Fort Lauderdale Truck Accident Case Review
Confidential · No obligation · Available 24/7
Hit by a Truck in Fort Lauderdale?
We Level the Playing Field.
Shiner Law Group represents truck accident victims throughout Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Trucking companies act immediately — so do we. Free consultation 24/7, No Win, No Fee.